I always make a wearable muslin. I sort through my own fabric and find something that's similar to the fabric weight or drape. I often finish the entire project, and wear it at home. For example, I was making a vintage blouse, and sorted through my fabric till I found a piece of cotton. I sewed it up. Then I did a quick embroidery on the fabric. Upon washing, I found that the embroidery thread ran like a wildebeest. If I hadn't make the muslin, I would have ruined a good piece of linen and wasted my time with that embroidery. If I'm not sure on a size, working with a "new" to me pattern company, I make my muslin one size up. This is a good time to figure out how you're going to finish the seam allowances, and fiddle with techniques you always wanted to try...bound buttonholes...fancy pockets...as well as pattern hacks.
I also use old bed sheets as muslin fabric. :) It's nice to see them through one last use. In addition to helping with fit, I like that I can do a run through of the techniques and experiment with seam finishes before using my nice fabric.
I swear by making muslins, as they often save costly mistakes with my finished garment. One thing I have learned is that you don't always need to cut all the pattern pieces to get a sense of the fit for the finished piece. You can often skip the pockets and embellishments, and you only have to cut one sleeve. Using a basting stitch makes it easy to rip the muslin apart and use large pieces of fabric for another muslin down the line.
I recently made a full dress with princess seam, muslum, (using bed sheet instead) . I am a newish sewer and this was my first fitted dress. I found it invaluable in what I learnt and how I could do better. Now I sewing the real dress, can't wait to finish it.
I always make a muslin. The one time I did not I ended up having to throw out the garment and start over. I then had to start over and make it in muslin. I also sometimes make more than one when I adjust the pattern like I just did with the Callahan pattern. It took four muslins to get the pattern right for my hip / waist to fit. I just started sewing and so I made sure to make making a muslin an essential part of my sewing habits. It has saved me more than once and when the muslin is done and it is correct, I dye it a color I like and wear them so no waste.
Priscilla Tait I made a muslin for the Audrey jacket but didn't add the cuffs, in order to save time. The sleeves were about 3/4" too long, so I figured the seam allowance would take care of it. Wrong! I finished the whole jacket and the sleeves are too long. I really learned a lot by this mistake. Mostly, not to skip the adjustment section of the class videos! I used to think making a muslin wasn't necessary but the more I sew the more I see the need to do it every time.
I haven't made muslins until recently. I wasn't sure about the fit os the Tessa jeans and thought it would be a good idea to make one before I cut it out. I have a pile of old, worn jeans from alterations I do for other people so I used that for making my muslin. I think it's a good idea to use a fabric that is as close to your finished fabric as you can. That way you get a better sense of how it will work out.
On my latest project, I ended up making 2 muslins out of bed sheets before I got fit right. When I learned to sew 50 years ago the home sewist didn’t “waste” fabric on a muslin. That’s probably when and why the term “homemade looking “ got started.
I usually make a muslin of a nonknit pattern the first time I make it in that size. So, for example, I made the same pattern for each of my girls, but since even the two girl triplets are the same age, they are almost a full size difference. And my bonus baby is 19 months younger, but only one size smaller than the smaller girl triplet. And of course my son wanted a different pattern, so he got a completely different muslin. The nice thing about the muslin is if you make them a little big, you can let the kids use them later when painting or working with glue or glitter or other stuff you don’t want on their regular clothes. S sort of painters smock as it were.
I sometimes make a couple muslins before I get it right. But I have not aways marked them well and when I go back a few months later, I can't remember which muslin goes with my which pattern iteration. Mark your pattern pieces and make detailed notes on them.
Place your muslin in ziplock bags and write notes and stick the notes into the ziplock as well. Saves you time trying to figure things out months down the line.
I sew it the regular way and then try it on inside out so it's easier to make adjustments, since I don't have a dress form. I usually cut my muslin with a really wide seam allowance, mark it up, then transfer those markings to a tracing of the pattern that will become my "new pattern."
She said that she usually doesn’t do a muslin for knit fabric. Sometimes she does a ‘wearable muslin,’ meaning that she makes the item with a less expensive fabric to identify any issues that she would want to address when using a more expensive fabric.
Is a muslin really useful when the drape of your muslin fabric is not the same as that of your nice fabric? I made a muslin for some culottes that fit gorgeously then when I remade with my linen blend, the garment didn't fit that well. So frustrating. Any suggestions for muslins for really drape fabrics? How about velvet?
I would suggest buying a "muslin" fabric that is similar to your final fabric. Keep in mind your muslin doesn't have to made out of just only muslin fabric! I have several different types of fabrics I purchased as yardage so I can match any final fabrics (I have a rayon, cotton, denim, etc). Many of them I got at yard sales or in a clearance bin at a fabric store.
Yes, I wait until JoAnn is running one of the "additional 50% all clearance fabric" sale and buy a bunch of bolt ends of ugly fabric in different weights/drapes. Also old sheets, which you can get in both woven and knit.
Hi, I have a müslin question that I would love to find an answer to. Let me set up what we're dealing with. I'm a rookie sewer, not as young as I used to be and isolated at home until there is a reliable vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 or a really good treatment for Co-VID-19 available in Europe. Immuno-deficient and with two different lung conditions, that's me. I would like to make a tankini, swimsuit or bikini. I have found two places where I can source ecologically-not-so-damaging (yeah, I'm one of those), with quite a mix of colors and patterns I really like. I like the aesthetics of the 1920's to about mid 50's but I want to use the modern fabrics that I found (but haven't bough yet) What kind of material would you people in the know use to make a mockup with, please? I think that I would find a mockup immensely helpful before I take my scissors to my fairly expensive fashion fabric. I don't fancy making my swim and beach wear made in wool or cotton the way they used to be, but regular müslin is decidedly non-stretchy, so I don't know how helpful it would be to help with size and fit for a stretchy one, The fashion fabric I found is decidedly stretchy. Any help would be fantastic. Thank you. Yours, Ann
A lot of swimsuits have a lining of a flesh-colored swimsuit material. In the past I have made a muslin out of the lining fabric and then used it in the actual lining of a garment once I worked the kinks out of the fit. You might be able to do something similar with your swimwear. Swim lining material should have a similar behavior to the fashion fabric and then you wouldn't need to waste the fabric.
@@obliquered Hi, Thank you so much. I will definitely try that. I think the same fabric that I got a swatch of that is not so damaging to the world came in a neutral color too that was less expensive, as it wasn't printed. Thank you for taking the time to help me. Yours, Ann
I always make a muslin. I advocate always making a wearable muslin. I made a dress out of calico and OMG, I have a whole bunch of fabric I have to use as scrap (or for practise with fabric dyes)
Yes, you can skip all of those things. Your goal is to get the pieces together enough to get a good sense of fit, but not complete any finishing details. So for example with a top you will baste the shoulders and side seams together and baste the sleeve on, but don't bother hemming or finishing edges or anything like that. Hope that helps!
I always make a wearable muslin. I sort through my own fabric and find something that's similar to the fabric weight or drape. I often finish the entire project, and wear it at home. For example, I was making a vintage blouse, and sorted through my fabric till I found a piece of cotton. I sewed it up. Then I did a quick embroidery on the fabric. Upon washing, I found that the embroidery thread ran like a wildebeest. If I hadn't make the muslin, I would have ruined a good piece of linen and wasted my time with that embroidery.
If I'm not sure on a size, working with a "new" to me pattern company, I make my muslin one size up. This is a good time to figure out how you're going to finish the seam allowances, and fiddle with techniques you always wanted to try...bound buttonholes...fancy pockets...as well as pattern hacks.
I also use old bed sheets as muslin fabric. :) It's nice to see them through one last use. In addition to helping with fit, I like that I can do a run through of the techniques and experiment with seam finishes before using my nice fabric.
I swear by making muslins, as they often save costly mistakes with my finished garment. One thing I have learned is that you don't always need to cut all the pattern pieces to get a sense of the fit for the finished piece. You can often skip the pockets and embellishments, and you only have to cut one sleeve. Using a basting stitch makes it easy to rip the muslin apart and use large pieces of fabric for another muslin down the line.
I recently made a full dress with princess seam, muslum, (using bed sheet instead) . I am a newish sewer and this was my first fitted dress. I found it invaluable in what I learnt and how I could do better. Now I sewing the real dress, can't wait to finish it.
I always make a muslin. The one time I did not I ended up having to throw out the garment and start over. I then had to start over and make it in muslin. I also sometimes make more than one when I adjust the pattern like I just did with the Callahan pattern. It took four muslins to get the pattern right for my hip / waist to fit. I just started sewing and so I made sure to make making a muslin an essential part of my sewing habits. It has saved me more than once and when the muslin is done and it is correct, I dye it a color I like and wear them so no waste.
Priscilla Tait I made a muslin for the Audrey jacket but didn't add the cuffs, in order to save time. The sleeves were about 3/4" too long, so I figured the seam allowance would take care of it. Wrong! I finished the whole jacket and the sleeves are too long. I really learned a lot by this mistake. Mostly, not to skip the adjustment section of the class videos! I used to think making a muslin wasn't necessary but the more I sew the more I see the need to do it every time.
Doona/quilt/duvet covers from op/thrift stores make great muslins. You get double the fabric of a sheet.
I haven't made muslins until recently. I wasn't sure about the fit os the Tessa jeans and thought it would be a good idea to make one before I cut it out. I have a pile of old, worn jeans from alterations I do for other people so I used that for making my muslin. I think it's a good idea to use a fabric that is as close to your finished fabric as you can. That way you get a better sense of how it will work out.
I try to make one every time. The shortcuts on sewing it were helpful.
On my latest project, I ended up making 2 muslins out of bed sheets before I got fit right. When I learned to sew 50 years ago the home sewist didn’t “waste” fabric on a muslin. That’s probably when and why the term “homemade looking “ got started.
I usually make a muslin of a nonknit pattern the first time I make it in that size. So, for example, I made the same pattern for each of my girls, but since even the two girl triplets are the same age, they are almost a full size difference. And my bonus baby is 19 months younger, but only one size smaller than the smaller girl triplet. And of course my son wanted a different pattern, so he got a completely different muslin. The nice thing about the muslin is if you make them a little big, you can let the kids use them later when painting or working with glue or glitter or other stuff you don’t want on their regular clothes. S sort of painters smock as it were.
I sometimes make a couple muslins before I get it right. But I have not aways marked them well and when I go back a few months later, I can't remember which muslin goes with my which pattern iteration. Mark your pattern pieces and make detailed notes on them.
great tip!
Place your muslin in ziplock bags and write notes and stick the notes into the ziplock as well. Saves you time trying to figure things out months down the line.
So could you demonstrate how you use what you learned from the Muslim to your pattern pieces?
Great idea for a future video - thanks!
I’ve heard that you sew it inside out so you can adjust +/- in the arm or in darts, etc., if needed. Have you heard of that before?
I've heard of trying it on inside out!
I sew it the regular way and then try it on inside out so it's easier to make adjustments, since I don't have a dress form. I usually cut my muslin with a really wide seam allowance, mark it up, then transfer those markings to a tracing of the pattern that will become my "new pattern."
So I may have missed this tip, but should you do muslin for knit fabric? I apologize for repeating if you did already answer this.
She said that she usually doesn’t do a muslin for knit fabric. Sometimes she does a ‘wearable muslin,’ meaning that she makes the item with a less expensive fabric to identify any issues that she would want to address when using a more expensive fabric.
Is a muslin really useful when the drape of your muslin fabric is not the same as that of your nice fabric? I made a muslin for some culottes that fit gorgeously then when I remade with my linen blend, the garment didn't fit that well. So frustrating. Any suggestions for muslins for really drape fabrics? How about velvet?
I would suggest buying a "muslin" fabric that is similar to your final fabric. Keep in mind your muslin doesn't have to made out of just only muslin fabric! I have several different types of fabrics I purchased as yardage so I can match any final fabrics (I have a rayon, cotton, denim, etc). Many of them I got at yard sales or in a clearance bin at a fabric store.
Yes, I wait until JoAnn is running one of the "additional 50% all clearance fabric" sale and buy a bunch of bolt ends of ugly fabric in different weights/drapes. Also old sheets, which you can get in both woven and knit.
Hi, I have a müslin question that I would love to find an answer to. Let me set up what we're dealing with. I'm a rookie sewer, not as young as I used to be and isolated at home until there is a reliable vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 or a really good treatment for Co-VID-19 available in Europe. Immuno-deficient and with two different lung conditions, that's me.
I would like to make a tankini, swimsuit or bikini. I have found two places where I can source ecologically-not-so-damaging (yeah, I'm one of those), with quite a mix of colors and patterns I really like. I like the aesthetics of the 1920's to about mid 50's but I want to use the modern fabrics that I found (but haven't bough yet)
What kind of material would you people in the know use to make a mockup with, please? I think that I would find a mockup immensely helpful before I take my scissors to my fairly expensive fashion fabric. I don't fancy making my swim and beach wear made in wool or cotton the way they used to be, but regular müslin is decidedly non-stretchy, so I don't know how helpful it would be to help with size and fit for a stretchy one, The fashion fabric I found is decidedly stretchy. Any help would be fantastic. Thank you. Yours, Ann
A lot of swimsuits have a lining of a flesh-colored swimsuit material. In the past I have made a muslin out of the lining fabric and then used it in the actual lining of a garment once I worked the kinks out of the fit. You might be able to do something similar with your swimwear. Swim lining material should have a similar behavior to the fashion fabric and then you wouldn't need to waste the fabric.
@@obliquered Hi, Thank you so much. I will definitely try that. I think the same fabric that I got a swatch of that is not so damaging to the world came in a neutral color too that was less expensive, as it wasn't printed. Thank you for taking the time to help me. Yours, Ann
I always make a muslin. I advocate always making a wearable muslin. I made a dress out of calico and OMG, I have a whole bunch of fabric I have to use as scrap (or for practise with fabric dyes)
Muslins are so essential, I agree!
What steps can I skip when making a muslin? Stay stitching? Zippers? Pressing?
Yes, you can skip all of those things. Your goal is to get the pieces together enough to get a good sense of fit, but not complete any finishing details. So for example with a top you will baste the shoulders and side seams together and baste the sleeve on, but don't bother hemming or finishing edges or anything like that. Hope that helps!
I see myself as “adventurous beginner” so I need to make a toile to practice new techniques
me. too
topic: Muslim fabric....by the yard. What to do with it. From Cleopatria Lisa Coronado.